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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Laurens
Full Member
Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 193
Loc: The Netherland

Hello all,

For those that remember I used to be more active on this forum about 2 years ago. A number of things have happened, both profesionally and personally that have turned me away from the piano. However, it was always there, and at least a couple of times a week I would play a bit.

Now I'm in NYC from a couple of months, and I do miss my piano. It is amazing. Yesterday I walked past the Steinway Hall, but I was shy to walk in. I saw myself playing twinkle twinkle little star on this $200K Piano...

Now I am planning to see if I can join the Steinway factory tour. Did anyone do that ? I'm not sure if one needs to be a group or not.

Too bad you could not connect with CC2 at the recent piano party last week on Long Island. Plenty of food and piano playing.

There are piano shops on West 58th St. We had a party on the block in January to celebrate Pique's book entitled "Grand Obsession" (which I am reading for the third time).

As far as the Steinway tours go, they are usually on Monday and Tuesday of a given week. Hopefully one will be put together this year and I plan to sign up. I expect that to occur in June if it occurs.

- Mark

_________________________
...The ultimate joy in music is the joy of playing the piano...

If you don't mind playing on digital pianos, there is a SamAsh on 48th between 6th and 7th with lots of keyboards and not so much traffic during the day. I work across the street and go there many days at lunch time to get some practice time in (as i don't have many other opportunities to play). Not as nice on playing on a Steinway but better than not playing at all.

Typically no headsets but they have a sign on the front door that reads "Come on in and play" and they actually mean it. I've sat there for close to an hour playing sometimes (there are a few keyboards in the back of the store where you don't get lots of foot traffic).

Laurens, there's also a studio (for act/dance/music rehearsals) on 18th Street called "Cap21". Although the pianos are consoles, if you're really itching to practice it's a possibility. They rent rooms by the hour from $20-? depending on the room size.

I work just a few blocks from there and I used to occasionally rent a studio during my lunch hour. It felt great to break up the day like that.

Laurens
Full Member
Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 193
Loc: The Netherland

I got my piano fix today. I followed mannyk's advice and went to SamAsh. I played there without annoying salesmen and had fun. The only drawback is that indeed there are no headsets, so you can hear everyone playing and even worse, everyone heared me... Months and months without playing SHOW! (and of course I didnt have my music with me).

Bernard, a meething sounds like fun, although after hearing myself today I wont play . I'm leaving again in about a months though. I should have come here earlier!

So I'm stirring up some interest in the possibility of going out for dinner some evening. Here's an exciting tidbit: pique, the author of "Grand Obsession" is coming to town and if we get together sometime between the 7th and 10th of May, she can join us!

So what do you think? Are any of those days good for dinner?

Other NYers interested? (I'll start a new thread when the particulars solidify a little.)

_________________________
"Hunger for growth will come to you in the form of a problem." -- unknown

Here's one more thought for those needing a piano fix without having one readily available (maybe you're traveling or just haven't gotten one yet). Here in Chicago the main public library has practice rooms where you can sign up to play in 30 minute blocks. You can go longer if no one else is signed in after you. I bet the libraries in other big cities have this too.

BlahBlahBlahh
Full Member
Registered: 03/19/08
Posts: 44
Loc: New York, New York

Hi Laurens - you just missed the Steinway tours that were hosted every day last week by the Steinway Hall. I went on the tour and it was quite informative though watching the film "Note By Note" will be almost the same (minus the dust and the noise). The factory was actually much less dusty than I had thought -- it was very organized and overall quite pleasant though it was clear to me that I was in a manufacturing facility. I met some people that were in this movie during my tour there. When you do go on the tour, just make sure you have your breakfast beforehand and wear comfortable shoes since there is quite a bit of walking and stair-climbing.

Laurens
Full Member
Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 193
Loc: The Netherland

Ooh Blablah, dont tell me I could have joined... Oh well, it will be for another time then. I searched the net for the "Note by Note", and it looks interesting and will pick it up when I find it. (Amazon doesnt carry it).

Bernand, I love to come Saterday. Will I be the only one ?? (havent finished the book yet... dont tell anyone!)

Wow, Laurens. Good for you! New York City, the picante sauce capital of the world. Just teasin' but what a wonderful place. Yes, go to the Steinway Hall, go to the back; there are pianos everywhere and play away. I got a big kick out of that. I'm sure the people there have heard worse and better so I felt good about playing at least a little bit on these great pianos.

New York City, though. The sausage dogs from the street vendors, the Art Deco architecture, the plays, the museums, the diversity of cultures; nobody's strange, not even us. I really love it. I hope you have a good time.

_________________________
"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." Andy Bernard